East Providence Fire Gets 2 Grants To Pay For Training

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — The East Providence Fire Department was awarded two grants totaling $75,000.

The 2021 and 2020 Homeland Security grants were granted through the Rhode Island Emergency Agency (RIEMA). City officials said the grants will pay for training programs and startup costs for the East Providence Fire Department's technical rescue team.

The technical rescue team consists of firefighters who are trained and certified to respond and provide technical knowledge in high-risk work duties and using specialized equipment in certain rescues. Those rescues include at high angle, in confined spaces and when buildings collapse.

"We are excited to be the host community for the East Bay Heavy Rescue Task Force," Mayor Bob DaSilva said. "We are honored that RIEMA chose East Providence."

In addition to the grants, the East Providence Fire Department is now officially a Rhode Island Heavy Rescue Task Force squad and will serve the entire East Bay area of the state.

The Rhode Island Heavy Rescue Task Force is organized into the East Bay (East Providence Fire Department) and West Bay (Warwick Fire Department) Heavy Rescue Squad. When the two squads come together, they form the Rhode Island Heavy Rescue Task Force, a Type-4 Urban Search and Rescue Team asset for the State of Rhode Island and beyond.

"We would like to thank RIEM for selecting East Providence Fire Dept. to serve as one of two Heavy Rescue Teams for RIEMA," Fire Chief Glenn Quick said. "It’s another proud day for EPFD and the citizens we serve every day."